Apparatus for heating tube.



O. VALLONB & F. R. ROGERS. APPARATUS FOR HEATING TUBES. APPLICATIONF'ILED 113.21, 1911.

1,052,863. Patented Feb. 11, 1913,

2 SHEETfi-SHEET l.

7142 7265565. I w 6 i Z? mummA PLANOGRMH KID-,WASHINGTON. n. c.

In U622 f0 rs G. VALLONE & F. R. ROGERS. APPARATUS FOR HEATING TUBES.APPLICATION FILED IEB.21,1911.

1,052,863. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

fivw Mum.

COLUMBIA PLANodRAPM C0,,wA5HlNuTON, v. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES VALLONE AND FRANK R. ROGERS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TOBARCALO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING TUBES.

Application filed February 21, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

vBe it known that we, CHARLES VALLONE and FRANK R. Rooms, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus forHeating Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

Polished brass articles, such, for example, as the tubes of brassbedsteads, are usually lacquered to prevent them from tarnishing. It isordinarily necessary, especially when using English lacquer, to applyseveral coats of the lacquer to the bedstead tubes in order to insure anadequate coating thereof. Each coat of the lacquer must dry or hardenbefore the next coat can be applied and it is therefore desirable tomaintain the tubes at such a temperature during the lacquering operationthat the volatile constituent of the lacquer will evaporate at once sothat there will be no loss of time in waiting for one coat to hardenbefore applying the neXt coat.

This invention relates more particularly to apparatus for heating bentor curved brass bedstead tubes and maintaining them at a suitabletemperature while they are being lacquered, but it is not necessarilyrestricted to the heating of brass bedstead tubes for this purpose, norto the heating of bent or curved tubes.

The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus of this kind uponwhich a tube can be readily secured in a position to be operated upon,and which is provided with a heating device or member adapted to beinserted into the tube for heating it to the required temperature andmaintaining it at that temperature while it is being lacquered orotherwise operated upon.

Briefly stated, the apparatus comprises two posts or holders with whichthe opposite ends of the tube are engaged for holding the tube inposition to be lacquered, and an electric heating coil or device whichis adapted to be shoved into the tube\through one end thereof.Electrical connections are provided whereby, when the heating coil ordevice has been inserted into the tube, an electric current can bepassed through it for heating the coil or device and the surroundingtube. The heating coil or device is preferably flexible, therebyadapting it to be readily shoved into curved or bent tubes.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 11,1913.

Serial No. 609,849.

movable tube support. Fig. 6 is a section on line 66, Fig. 8, on anenlarged scale, showing means for clamping the movable tube support inplace on the machine.

Like reference characters refer to like part-s in the several figures.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is more particularly adapted tooperate on U- shaped tubes whose open ends face in the same directionand are parallel to each other, but it will be evident that by slightchanges the machine could be adapted to operate on bent or curved tubesof other shapes and on straight tubes.

A represents the frame or stand of the apparatus which may be of anysuitable form and construction. The frame shown consists of a horizontalbed or table a of I-shape in cross-section supported by suitable uprightlegs or standards a. A tube B, Fig. 1, which is to be lacquered, isplaced on the apparatus with its open ends downward and resting onsuitable tube supports 0r holders C and D secured on the bed a of theapparatus.

E represents the flexible heating coil or device which is arranged tomove endwise in a tubular sheath or guide F secured on the frame beneaththe bed a with one end thereof connecting with the lower end of one ofthe tube supports or holders, for instance, the holder C, which istubular, so that the heating coil or device is adapted to be moved outof its sheath F through the tubular holder G into the tube B to beheated.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, see Fig. 4, the tubesupport or holder C is formed by the upwardly projecting end of thesheath or guide F which is held by a surrounding sleeve 0 which issuitably secured to one end of the bed a. The upper portion of thesheath or guide F is electrically insulated from the securing sleeve 0by an insulating bushing 0 secured in the sleeve, and the end of thesheath or guide which extends above the insulating bushing forms thesupport or holder D over which one end of the tube B to be lacquered isadapted to be slipped and by which the tube is held in position to belacquered. The holder C is preferably perforated to allow the heat fromthe heating device E to act on the ends of the tubes, as well as on theintermediate portions thereof.

The other tube support or holder D, see Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a baseportion (Z which is slidably mounted in the bed a so that it can beadjusted to different positions thereon, and is provided with a socketcl in which an insulating bushing (Z is held. A short tubular stud ornipple (Z is secured in the insulating bushing (Z and constitutes theholding means for the other end of the tube B. A contact (Z which may beof annular or of any other suitable shape,forms a terminal for anelectric circuit and is suitably secured in the insulating bushing (land insulated thereby from the other parts of the machine. This terminalis connected by a conductor (Z to any suitable source of electriccurrent supply. Any suitable means, such, for instance, as a clampingbolt cl, may be employed for adj ustably securing the movable support Dto the bed of the machine. The support or holder D can thus be moved toand secured in the different positions on the bed a required for holdingtubes B of difierent lengths.

By making the tube supports or holders of the construction shown so thatthe tube B telescopes over the supports or holders, it is evident thatnone of the lacquer can enter into the supports or holders and thus clogupor otherwise interfere with the operation of the apparatus. This isimportant in the case of the support D, where the lacquer is preventedfrom covering the contact (Z and thus preventing a proper electricalcontact thereof with the end of the heating coil or device.

The flexible heating coil or device E shown consists of an outer springwire coil 6 within which is located an inner resistance coil 6 which isadapted to be heated when an electric current is passed through thesame. The outer coil e is slightly less in diameter than the interiordiameterof the tubes to be heated so that the coil can be readilyinserted and moved lengthwise therein. One end of the resistance coil 6is se cured in an insulating bushing e and connected by a conductor a tothe source ofcurrent supply, and the other end is connected to a contactplug or piece 6* secured in an insulating plug 6 which is suitablyfastened to the adjacent end of the outer coil 6 of the heating device.When the heating device is inserted into a tube B to be heated, the plug6 engages with the contact 05 of the movable support or holder D,whereby a circuit is completed from the conductor 0 through theresistance coil and contacts 6 and (Z* to the conductor (Z The innerresistance wire is held out of contact with the outer coil of theheating device and insulated therefrom by a number of insulatingbushings or rings 0 located within the coil 6 at suitable distancesapart. These bushings do not interfere with the flexing of the heatingdevice. This construction of the heating member has been found to bevery satisfactory in operation, but other constructions may be used, ifdesired.

The heating coil or device E is preferably operated to move it into andwithdraw it from the tube to be heated, by a swinging arm G which issuitably pivoted at g on the bed a. The sheath or guide F is curvedconcentrically with the pivot of the operating arm G and the arm extendsinto the sheath or guide through a longitudinal slot 9 therein and issecured to the insulating bushing e at the rear end of the heating coilor device. A guide piece secured to the arm G, also enters the slot and.helps to guide the movement of the arm. The pivoted end of the arm G issecured to a gear H, which is adapted to be driven by a pinion Tsuitably journaled on the bed a. A crank K is attached to the pinion I.When the gear H is rotated by turning the crank K, the end of the arm Gwill move the heating coil or device in the sheath or guide F eitherdirection, depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank. Anyother suitable mechanism may be employed for actuating the heating coilor device.

In the operation of the apparatus, the tube B to be heated is firstplaced in position on the supports or holders 0 and D after which thecrank K is turned to move the heating coil or device into the tube 13until the contacts (Z' and c are in engagement. The current is thenpassed through the heating coil or device for heating the tube byclosing a controlling switch L, or other suitable means. When the tubehas reached the required temperature. the lacquer is applied. After thetube has been lacquered. the current is first turned off and the heatingcoil or device is withdrawn from the tube B by turning the crank K inthe opposite direction, after which the tube may be removed.

The apparatus described is easily operated and it enables the tubes tobe completely lacquered in one operation, doingaway with the necessityof reheating the tube in a furnace after each coat has been applied. Byheating the tubes by a separate heating member inserted therein, insteadof passing the current directly through the tube itself, the apparatusis much more reliable in action, since the contacting surfaces at theend of the member and on the movable support are not liable to becomecovered with the lacquer and thus prevent the flow of current. lVhen thecurrent is passed through the tube itself, difliculty is experienced inmaking good electrical contacts at the ends of the tubes andconsequently some of the tubes will not be heated to the sametemperature as others, which will result in a lack of uniformity in thework; also since the electrical resistance varies with different gradesand sizes of tubes, a constant adjustment of some kind ofcurrent-regulating device would be required, to heat all tubes to thesame temperature. In the apparatus described, the resistance of theheating member is constant and consequently no adjustment of the currentstrength is required, so that no skilled labor is required to operatethe apparatus.

IVhile the apparatus has been described as provided with an electricalheating member, yet a member heated by any other suit able means whichis movably mounted and adapted to be moved into and out of a tube asdescribed may be used if desired.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of a frame, meansfor removably supporting a tube thereon, a flexible heating device whichis movably supported by the frame, and reciprocatory mechanism formoving the heating device into and out of the tube, substantially as setforth.

2. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of a frame, meansfor removably supporting a tube thereon, an electric heating devicewhich is movably supported by the frame and is adapted to be heatedsubstantially throughout its length, and reciprocatory mechanism formoving said heating device into and out of the tube, substantially asset forth.

3. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forremovably supporting a tube, a heating device movably supported on saidsupporting means and adapted to be inserted into the tube, electricalmeans for heating said device substantially throughout its length afterthe same has been inserted into said tube, and an operating device whichis operatively connected with said supporting means for inserting theheating device into the tube, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for heating bent tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube, a flexible heating coil adapted to be inserted intothe tube, electrical means for heating said coil, and means connectedwith said supporting means for inserting the coil into the tube,substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube,

a device adapted to be inserted into the tube and comprising an innercoil which is electrically heated, and an outer coil forming a flexiblecontainer for said heating coil and which is electrically insulatedtherefrom, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube, an electrical heating device which is adapted to beinserted into the tube, means for inserting the device into the tube,and means for closing a circuit through said heating device,substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube, an electrical heating device which is adapted to beinserted into the tube, means for inserting the device into the tube,and means which close a circuit through said heating device as soon asthe same is in place in the tube, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube, an electrical heating device which is adapted to beinserted into the tube, and means which are adapted to insert saidheating device into the tube and cause a circuit to be closed when thedevice is in place in the tube, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of supports whichare adapted to engage the ends of a tube and hold said tube in positionto be operated upon, one of said supports being hollow, a heating deviceadapted to be inserted into said tube through one of said hollowsupports, said heating device consisting of outer and inner parts, saidinner part being insulated from said outer part and being adapted to beheated by an electric current, and a contact device in said othersupport wit-h which one end of said heating member is adapted to engageto complete a circuit through said inner part thereof, substantially asset forth.

10. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube, an electric heating device Which is connected with asource of current and is adapted to be moved into the tube, a contactdevice at the leading end of said heating device, and a second contactconnected with said source of current and adapted to be engaged by saidfirst contact when said heating device is inserted in the tube,substantially as set forth.

11. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube, a flexible heating device which is adapted to beinserted into said tube, a guide by which said heating device is movablysupported, and means for moving said heating device into and out of saidtube, substantially as set forth.

12. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of tubularsupports for holding a tube, a flexible electric heating device which isadapted to be inserted into said tube through one of said tubularsupports and to enter into said other support, a contact on the end ofsaid heating device, and a contact in said other tubular support withwhich said first mentioned contact is adapted to engage, substantiallyas set forth.

13. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of a bed,supports mounted on said bed and adapted to engage with the ends of thetube to support said tube, one of said supports being adjustablelengthwise of said bed, and the other support being hollow, and aheating device which is heated substantially throughout its length andis adapted to pass from said hollow support into said tube,substantially as set forth.

1 1. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube, an. electrical heating device adapted to be insertedinto the tube, and means controlled by the movement of the heatingdevice into the tube for closing an electrical heating circuit throughsaid heating device, substan tially as set forth.

15. In an apparatus for heating bent tubes, the combination of supportswhich are adapted to engage the opposite ends of a tube and removablyhold the tube in position to be operated upon, one of said supports'being hollow, and a movably mounted flexible heating device which isheated substantially throughout its length and is adapted to be insertedinto said tube through said hollow support, substantially as set forth.

16. In an apparatus for heating tubes, the combination of means forsupporting a tube and a heating device adapted to be inserted into saidtube and comprising an outer coil of wire, an electric heating memberlocated within said coil, and insulating bushings located within saidouter coil at suitable intervals with intervening air spaces betweensaid bushings, said bushings serving to insulate said heating memberfrom said outer coil, substantially as set forth.

17. In an apparatus for heating bent tubes, the combination of a frame,means for removably supporting a tube thereon, a flexible electricalheating device which is movably supported by said frame, andreciprocatory mechanism for moving said heating device into and out ofsaid tube, substantially as set forth.

l/Vitness our hands, this 14th day of February, 1911.

CHARLES VALLONE. FRANK R. ROGERS. Witnesses:

A. W. KIRTON, O. L. HYsLoP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

